Likeable Slughorn (was: Villain!Dumbledore )

[montavilla47]

No: HPFGUIDX 177842

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "sistermagpie" <sistermagpie at ...> wrote:
> Magpie:
> Nor is Slughorn a particularly good teacher that I can see. Oh, 
> there are plenty at Hogwarts that are at his level--the school 
> doesn't have the greatest record. He's not particularly bad either 
> in some areas. But what we see isn't particularly impressive. He has 
> kids make potions from a book, they all struggle with it (including 
> Hermione) and then he praises Harry alone, without much in the way 
> of instructions for others--in fact he usually makes a point of 
> chalking up Harry's talent to his bloodline. I wouldn't be surprised 
> if plenty of serious students preferred Snape over this guy. 
> Certainly I suspect they'd respect him more. The guy's kind of 
> begging to be sucked up to for rewards.

Montavilla47:
Thank you, Magpie.  You are pointing to the exact same things
that bother me about Slughorn as a person or the representative
"Good Slytherin."  

I can see him as an affectionate nod to old-time racism as he
prattles on about how some of his best students (friends) are
Muggleborns.  But he is an appalling teacher.

I could see the fun little competition as innovative teaching
if that were just the first class of the year.  But, even if he 
isn't giving prizes every class, they do seem to consist of 
him pitting the students against each other and then picking
a winner based on personal charm or bloodline or association
or "cheekiness."

I like Harry to the extent that he dislikes this attitude (not 
wanting to attend the Slug Club), but I dislike the way 
that Harry allows Slughorn's favoritism (along with the
"help" he's getting from the Prince) to benefit him.

In the long term, Slughorn's methods are not helping
Harry the potions student (much as they may be helping
Harry the Hero of Our Story).  He isn't really learning
what he's supposed to be learning in sixth year, as 
Hemione points out.  He can follow instructions, but he
doesn't know the theory behind them.


Montavilla47